Banking organizations need customers and deposits. So I am given a quarterly target to open some new accounts and to collect fixed-deposits. My performance will be monitored and it will work as an impetus for my promotions and benefits.

My bank, undoubtedly, doesn't have the best line of products but still I am asked to market and collect customers. That seems to be an impossible task to me.

I have no acquaintance in the area in which I am posted. So I tried to build acquaintance by starting at the commercial-building in which our bank-branch is situated. But I actually don't know how to do accomplish the task. So I have had to give up after a bad start. I contacted three people in three shops. Two of them directly refused. And, to the last one, I actually didn't dare to propose.

I am also somewhat depressed with my job. I didn't know that a banking organization actually put pressures on desk-officers for hunting customers. Also, I feel mean to ask ordinary people. This feels like begging.

Can anyone please tell me how to start my task and how to accomplish it?

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can you edit the question to give more detail about what does and doesn't work for you about the target thing? Is it just that you're not accustomed to it? and is it that you're not accustomed to being given goals, or the door-to-door begging? As it stands, the question's really vague for me.
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dwwilson66Jul 16 '12 at 15:45

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I think this question belongs in Workplace. If you changed it so the question was how you can change your attitudes on refusal, PPSE could help you out.
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GaʀʀʏJul 20 '12 at 16:36

5 Answers
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It's typical sales. You'll have to build yourself a thick skin and get used to it. Learn sales techniques. On the floor, sales is just working hard, consistently, and maintaining a positive demeanor as you do.

First, you have to appreciate the product you're selling. Your objective is not to get people to buy something they don't want. Your objective is to find someone who wants to buy your products. If they don't buy yours, they'll probably buy an inferior one from a competitor anyway.

The product sells itself. Your job is to find the people who are looking for it, which means long hours. If they reject you right from the start, you at least know when to move on.

In a nutshell, a few skills to develop:

Rapport: This is why multi level marketing works so well. People are much more open to you if you have some kind of personal connection, whether it's a mutual friend or some mutual interest/hobby. Oh, and learn to smile, smiling is a practiced skill.

Diagnostics: It takes experience. You don't want to waste time on someone who isn't interested. You want to find out what kind of thing clicks with your target, find out what they really want, and how to get them excited.

Generating desire: Learn your product well. Learn your competitor's. What's your advantage? Why does your customer want your product instead? Even if you have no advantages, why should they want a product of that type at all?

Overcoming objections: Learn common objections to your product. Run a counter-argument over in your head a few times, until you can convince yourself.

Closing the deal: It's difficult to close a deal sometimes. You want to start slowly, and build your way up to the closing commitment. It's a skill to train, you have to know how to sniff them out.. when are they willing to close, what scares them away?

Following up: It's surprising how many salespeople don't actually follow up. Your customers are usually going to be busy. Sometimes they'll forget. Sometimes they're lazy. Follow up, politely. There's a fine line between following up and badgering them all the time.. it takes some practice to figure out where that line is.

Documentation: Write down a report every week. Who you approached, how you approached them, their responses. It'll help you figure out what you're doing right, how productive you really were.

Confidence: Sales is really tough. Learn to pick yourself back up, find something that makes you confident. Walk straight, learn to smile as soon as you see someone - sometimes the initial smile will really warm them up to listen to you. Nobody wants to talk to someone who looks unconfident, so this can be quite important.

Thanks! Very good. You articulated the whole thing very good. What do you do in real life? And, I have posted another question. Please take a look.
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BROYAug 11 '12 at 5:46

@BROY I do a lot of things, currently software development. But learned this technique from a very brief stint in sales engineering, which, similarly, relies on knowing a product in depth and selling it to a niche market. Happier to be on the back-end, though :)
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MuzAug 11 '12 at 6:34

Not entirely sure what position you hold, but it sounds like you could benefit from learning about sales techniques to achieve what you are looking for (closing on deals, selling a product/service). Check this link out, or for general sales tips.

I agree with John. No one will care or fund something that will not benefit them in some way as most people are not selfless but selfish (sorry if the truth stings a bit). Always approach a resistant, hesitant, or unlikely giver/buyer of any idea/product/request with "I figured out the best way to save us time on our lunch break" or "The boss will probably be so happy with our department and you could finally be promoted to Manager if we sell five more a week."

The action that your employer is asking you to take is completely within the normal duties in your sector. So, the issue is certainly not one of an unreasonable request.

You have shared 'I have a grave fear of being refused. And, I can never tolerate any refusal. It makes me embarrassed, horribly dishonored. Moreover, I am ashamed of requesting anybody for anything. My ego always forbids to make any request'

Is this even the job for you? I get that you need a paycheck and need to meet your financial obligations. Productivity tips are not going to help here. You need to have purpose and passion in order to be productive and that is clearly not going to happen given the description of how this activity makes you feel.